MURAL PAINTINGS IN PARLIAMENT HOUSE

As one enters the Parliament House, one is fascinated by a row of beautiful paintings adorning the walls of the outer circular corridor on the ground floor. The paintings are the works of eminent artists of India, depicting scenes from the long history of this country right from the Vedic age down the British period, culminating in the attainment of independence in 1947

The practice in India of decorating public places, temples and palaces etc., with paintings and murals has come down to us since time immemorial. These pieces of art are symbolic of the life, culture and traditions of the people of the contemporaneous periods. To us now, they are reminiscent of the great civilisations and empires that flourished in India in the past and of the great kings, warriors and saints who by their efforts glorified this land of ours. The caves of Ajanta, Ellora and Elephanta are vivid reminders of great art that flourished centuries ago.

It was natural, therefore, that the architects of modern India should have thought it fit to decorate the modern temple of democracy, i.e, the Parliament House, with paintings depicting great moments in the history of this country and to try to revive in some measure the glory that was 'India'. The idea was first conceived by the late Shri G.V. Mavalankar, the first Speaker of Lok Sabha. In 1951, a Planning Committee was appointed, consisting of prominent Members of Parliament, eminent scholars, archaeologists, historians with the Speaker (Shri G.V. Mavalankar) as Chairman. The Committee drew up a detailed plan to decorate the corridor on the ground floor of the Parliament House with 125 panels (size 11'.9" x 4'.11/2") and 46 motifs, at an estimated cost of Rs. 3 lakhs. According to revised plan the corridor on Ground Floor of the Parliament House will be decorated with 59 Panels.

In order to execute the plan, an Artists Sub-Committee consisting of well-known artists, historians, archaeologists and archaeological chemists was appointed in 1954. This Sub- Committee laid down a detailed and systematic procedure for getting the panels painted by selected artists in the country.

The artists selected for painting the murals have been divided into different zones and each zone is under the change of an honorary Artist Supervisor who is also a member of the Artists Sub-Committee. The Artist Supervisor guides and supervises the work of the artists in his respective zone. Each panel passes through three stages, i.e., colour sketch, pencil cartoon and final painting on masonite board. The work was to be approved at every stage by the Artist Supervisor and the Artists Sub-Committee, particularly by the historian members of the Sub-Committee.

So far, 54 panels have been completed and displayed in the outer corridor on the ground floor of the Parliament House. A brief description of the panels already on display is given below

Panel No.1

The seal of Shiva as Yogi showing the Indian ideal of meditation. Also Bull and Unicom. From Mohenjodaro (3rd Millennium B.C.)

This panel illustrates two scenes from the epic Ramayana. The first one depicts the compassion of Valmiki with the quotation "ma nishada"etc. The other depicts the meeting of Rama and Guha (King of Nishadas), symbolising the meeting of the Arvan and Austric cultures.

Buddha turning the wheel of law (Dharrna-Chakra Pravartana). It also shows the first five disciples of the Buddha at Sarnath and the symbol showing the Dharma Chakra with two couchant stags on either side.

Chandragupta Vikramaditya and Kalidasa, with a quota tion-- "A prosperous State is heaven on earth"--(riddhan hi rajyam padamaindram ahuh)--Raghuvamsa (Canto ll verse 50), Kalidasa reading a manuscript of his work o Raghuvamsa to the King surrounded by Courtiers ant officers (4th Century A.D.).

Artist--Shri S. D. Chawda, Bombay.

Artist Supervisor--Shri Gopal D. Deuskar, Bombay.

Panel No. 27

Map to show trade relations with other countries such as Indian ivory from Begram and Pompeii and Mohenjodarc seals found in Mesopotamia and similar other finds.

Reproduced map made in connection with the Inter-Asiar Exhibition held in 1947 showing India's contact with other Asiatic countries.